Release Information

In some respects, this is a sad album. The band had actually broken up in April 1971, with no intention of ever working together again, But when it became obvious that Kossoff was suffering from major dug problems, brought on by the split in the band for who he had so much affection, it was decided to reunite the line-up, almost as a way of saving the guitarist’s life.

Under those conditions, it would be expected that ‘Free At Last’ would be anything but a decent album. However, against all the odds it turned out a lot better than expected or feared. Sure there are times when Kossoff’s erratic playing had to be covered by either Rodgers or Fraser playing piano. And there’s an melancholic air to some of the lyrics, possibly reflecting Kossoff’s state of mind. Yet, set against this is the fact that the band seemed to immerse themselves in a new style.

The swagger of old had gone, maybe unsurprisingly, but the new introspection not only suited the mood of the band, but also gave them a fresh direction to explore. And there is no way that songs like ‘A Little Bit Of Love’ were inferior to past glories.